Let’s cut through the noise. Anyone who gives you a single number for shipping from Hong Kong to Canada is guessing. The real cost depends on one thing: what you’re actually shipping.
As someone who’s managed this route countless times, I can tell you it boils down to a trade-off between your budget and your timeline. Here’s the real-world breakdown you need to plan properly.
Ocean Freight: The Slow Boat (But Your Wallet Will Thank You)
For anything that isn’t urgent, ocean freight is the default. You’ve got two paths:
FCL (Full Container Load) – Your Private Container
Think of FCL as renting a private studio apartment for your cargo. You get the whole 20′ or 40′ container to yourself. The advantage? Your goods aren’t touched or moved until they reach the final port, meaning lower risk of damage and often faster than LCL since there’s no mixing stage.
You pay a flat fee for the box—whether you fill it or not. For dense, heavy cargo, even a half-full container can be cheaper than shipping via LCL.
Best for: Large shipments
Cost efficiency: Best per unit
Transit time: 30–40 days to Vancouver, 37–55 days to Toronto/Montreal
LCL (Less than Container Load) – Shared Space
No full container? No problem. With LCL, your pallets share space in a container with other shipments. It’s like a hostel for freight.
The catch: your goods are handled more, consolidated in Hong Kong, and deconsolidated in Canada. This adds 5–10 extra days compared to FCL and slightly increases risk.
You pay only for the volume you use (per cubic meter), making it ideal for mid-sized loads that are too big for air.
Best for: Small to mid-sized shipments
Cost efficiency: Cheaper than air freight
Transit time: 32–60 days (depending on city)
Air Freight: Paying for Peace of Mind
Need it within 1–2 weeks? Air freight is your solution. You pay a premium for speed and security, but it’s worth it for high-value or urgent cargo.
Insider tip: air freight rates drop per kilo as shipments get heavier.
• A small 10 kg box: Over $50/kg → very expensive
• A 300 kg pallet: Around $5/kg → much more reasonable
Best for: Medium-to-large urgent shipments
Transit time: 6–12 days door-to-door
Express Shipping: The “I Need This Yesterday” Option
For small, urgent shipments (under 70 kg), express carriers like DHL, FedEx, and UPS are unbeatable. They handle customs and deliver door-to-door in 1–4 business days.
Best for: Samples, documents, small urgent boxes
Transit time: 1–4 business days
Transit Time Overview (2025 Realistic Estimates)
- FCL (Sea): 30–55 days (Vancouver faster, Toronto/Montreal slower)
- LCL (Sea): 32–60 days
- Air Freight: 6–12 days door-to-door
- Express: 1–4 business days
Port of Hong Kong: The Main Port of the Country
Port of Hong Kong (HK KCO) is the third largest container port in the Pearl River Delta Metropolitan Region. It is a natural deepwater port. In 2004, the Port of Hong Kong was the largest in the world by container throughput. In the following years, its position was overtaken by ports in Singapore, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Los Angeles, etc. Its container throughput declined from almost 24.5 million TEU (2008) to 16.5 million TEU (2022).
In 2021, an average of 170 ships called daily. It is not a high number since, in 2016, there were three times as many. Most vessels arriving at the Hong Kong port are cargo and container ships. In terms of port activities, ocean cargo vessels significantly exceed river cargo vessels by numbers (150 million tons versus 64 million tons).
Estimated Shipping Costs (Hong Kong → Canada, 2025)
To Vancouver, BC
FCL Rates
| Load | Transit Time | Price |
| 20′ Container | 30–40 days | $3,863 – $5,151 |
| 40′ Container | 30–40 days | $4,503 – $6,004 |
| 40′ HC | 30–40 days | $4,503 – $6,004 |
| 45′ HC | 30–40 days | $5,142 – $6,856 |
LCL Rates
| Load | Transit Time | Price |
| 1 CBM | 32–45 days | $655 – $873 |
| 5 CBM | 32–45 days | $1,704 – $2,272 |
| 10 CBM | 32–45 days | $2,913 – $3,884 |
Air Cargo Rates
| Load | Transit Time | Price |
| 100 kg | 6–10 days | $1,094 – $1,459 |
| 300 kg | 6–10 days | $2,598 – $3,464 |
| 500 kg | 6–10 days | $3,645 – $4,860 |
Express Rates
| Load | Transit Time | Price |
| 10 kg | 3–6 days | $309 – $412 |
| 100 kg | 3–6 days | $1,238 – $1,651 |
To Montreal, QC
(Transit is longer and more expensive than Vancouver)
FCL Rates
| Load | Transit Time | Price |
| 20′ Container | 43–55 days | $6,373 – $8,498 |
| 40′ Container | 43–55 days | $7,612 – $10,150 |
| 40′ HC | 43–55 days | $7,612 – $10,150 |
| 45′ HC | 43–55 days | $8,851 – $11,802 |
LCL Rates
| Load | Transit Time | Price |
| 1 CBM | 45–60 days | $827 – $1,103 |
| 5 CBM | 45–60 days | $2,453 – $3,271 |
| 10 CBM | 45–60 days | $4,389 – $5,852 |
Air Cargo Rates
| Load | Transit Time | Price |
| 100 kg | 6–10 days | $1,099 – $1,465 |
| 300 kg | 6–10 days | $2,648 – $3,530 |
| 500 kg | 6–10 days | $3,711 – $4,948 |
Express Rates
| Load | Transit Time | Price |
| 10 kg | 3–6 days | $309 – $412 |
| 100 kg | 3–6 days | $1,238 – $1,651 |
To Toronto, ON
FCL Rates
| Load | Transit Time | Price |
| 20′ Container | 37–50 days | $6,346 – $8,461 |
| 40′ Container | 37–50 days | $7,589 – $10,118 |
| 40′ HC | 37–50 days | $7,589 – $10,118 |
| 45′ HC | 37–50 days | $8,832 – $11,776 |
LCL Rates
| Load | Transit Time | Price |
| 1 CBM | 39–55 days | $828 – $1,104 |
| 5 CBM | 39–55 days | $2,607 – $3,476 |
| 10 CBM | 39–55 days | $4,697 – $6,262 |
Air Cargo Rates
| Load | Transit Time | Price |
| 100 kg | 6–10 days | $1,099 – $1,465 |
| 300 kg | 6–10 days | $2,684 – $3,578 |
| 500 kg | 6–10 days | $3,756 – $5,008 |
Express Rates
| Load | Transit Time | Price |
| 10 kg | 3–6 days | $309 – $412 |
| 100 kg | 3–6 days | $1,238 – $1,651 |
How to Not Get Ripped Off: 3 Practical Tips
- Quote Door-to-Door, Not Port-to-Port: The biggest mistake beginners make is comparing port fees. The real cost is in the extras: trucking, fuel surcharges, customs brokerage, and terminal fees. Always, always get a full door-to-door quote to avoid nasty surprises.
- Your Paperwork is Everything: A missing form or an incorrect HS code won’t just delay your shipment—it’ll cost you a fortune in storage fees and fines at the Canadian border. Get your commercial invoice and packing list perfect. Triple-check it.
- The West Coast is Your Friend: Shipping to Vancouver (CAVAN) is almost always faster and cheaper than shipping to Toronto (CATOR) or Montreal (CAMTR). If you can get your cargo landed in Vancouver and trucked east, you’ll often save money and time.
The "cheapest" option doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The cheapest option for you is the one that aligns with your timeline and protects your profit margin. Sometimes, that means paying more for air to fulfill a client order. Sometimes, it means waiting 40 days for the slow boat. Now you have the info to decide.
